Forum Discussion

holstein13's avatar
holstein13
Explorer
Jan 22, 2016

Is a pickup truck / trailer combo really safer?

I belong to a group on facebook composed of full-time families and there seems to be an unquestioned assumption that a pickup truck / trailer combination is safer than a motorhome.

Granted, a modern Prevost is probably much safer than an old pickup towing an overweight trailer, but in general is it true that passenger vehicles towing an RV are safer than motorhomes?

The main points seem to be seat belts and air bags. But I am unaware that any organization does any safety tests on truck / trailer combinations. Where is this assumption coming from?

36 Replies

  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    I doubt there have been many trailers behind a larger MH that took it to the scene of the accident, unlike a PU or car. My feet are over 4' above the road surface giving me a big advantage over a PU or a car in anything other than tangling with another 40,000 lb vehicle. My shoulder harness will keep me out of the windshield that is 3' away without a airbag. I am not worried about flying missiles as the slide outs protect both front seats, the only ones occupied. Am I better off in every situation... NO, but I like the 10 to 1 mass ratio with most vehicles.

    "My only fear was a bad front end collision which might send the 5ver hitch through the cab." ... and the 5er.
  • I ft in a dp. That said in a serious wreck I'm in trouble. Just the missiles flying around are scary enough. But unless the MH is bus like a prevost it will likely come apart.

    I pulled a 5ver with a dodge 2500, air bags around, padded everything, not a lot of loose stuff to fly around.
    My only fear was a bad front end collision which might send the 5ver hitch through the cab.
  • We own both a PU/TT combo and a MH. I can tell you as far as traveling goes I **MUCH** prefer the MH and feel I'm in a lot better control.

    And for the record, my truck is a '16 Super Duty diesel, our TT is a 33' Dutchman, and it is properly attached with the best Reese antisway, load leveling hitch money can buy.
  • I've been posting about RV crash safety (or luck of such) and that is not bringing me popularity ;)
    Being to few RV junk-yards I have seen how average ClassA ends after even minor accident, or "small" fire that consumed it down to the chassis rails.
    Google for images and you will see what I am talking about.
    I do own Prevost conversion and I am confident with its roll-over ratings but my feet are about 20" behind front bumper, so I have no illusion that hitting wall or whatever head-on is going be deadly.
    Coming to truck, they do come with crash ratings, but being pickups-they are exempt from car standards.
    F150 for generations proved itself as the deadliest vehicle on the planet.
    I drive Superduties for years and use one for my Truck Camper having pretty good confidence in it.
    Heavy pickups give you good protection in crashes with other (smaller) vehicles, but then have very high death ratio in single-car accidents.
    Meaning the weight and stiffens of pickup works against passengers in roll-over and hitting big objects.
    Bottom line- while rolling over in pickup, especially newer with >6 bags is giving you chance..
    Rolling over in average ClassA or cheaper DP, not so.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    I would guess that a pickup alone is far safer in a crash than a MH. Trucks are tightly regulated and constantly tested. I don't know of any crash test for a MH or any regulation to mandate crash performance. I've seen crash photos of both and a MH tends to literally get torn apart. That said, I am not sure a truck/trailer combo is safer. You are compounding all kinds of forces on a truck with the addition of a trailer and it completely changes the game. I've seen where a trailer actually caused a rollover of both vehicles. Stopping distance is lessened and it's a consumer controlled coupling system as opposed to a fully contained and manufactured MH. So things can go wrong more often with the hookup and tow of a trailer and the variables increase exponentially. RV's in general, towable or motorized are unsafe in a crash. I wish there was more oversight into this. Of course that adds money to the bottom line. Just my thoughts.
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Some class A Mfg's claim a monocoque structure but I don't see that the claims are true when compared to air craft monocoque or semi monocoque structure. I think a pickup truck's body carries more load in its outside skin panels than a normal class A making it safer in a rollover accident. Having said that I would feel safer in a class A in any other type of an accident just because of it's size and its massive steel chassis structure which carries most of the load. The outer structure carries very little.